Automatic means for operating casement windows and the like



Nov. 15, 1938. R. w. CARNAHAN AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR OPERATING CASEMENT WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed June 26, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVE'NTOR, mzw

1 4-, ATTOR N EY Nov. 15, 1938. R. w. cARNAHAN 2,136,812

AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR OPERATING CASEMENT WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed June 26, 1935 S SheetS-Sheec 2 ATTORNEY NOV. 15, 1938. w CARNAHAN 2,136,812

AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR OPERATING CASEMENT WINDOWS AND THE LIKE Filed June 26, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 1f.

4 )W 6 INVEINTOR) 45.14

44 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 15, 1938 PATENT orr cs AUTOMATIC MEANS FOR OPERATING CASE- MENT WINDOWS AND THE LIKE I Ralph Carnahan, near Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The S. H. Thomson Manufacturing Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 26,

6 Claims.

Thisinvention. relates to new and useful improvements in operating means for casement windows and the like.

It is one of the principal objects of my invention to provide remote control means to open and close casement windows, either singly or in groups.

It is another object of my invention to provide locking means associated with the operating means, to unlock the window before it opens and to lock the window after it is closed;

Itis still: another important object of my invention to provide automatic means to interrupt the operation of the device when the window is fully opened, or fully closed and locked.

Another important object of my invention is the incorporation of means whereby the window may be partially opened or partially closed without necessitating a full movement in either directiong in other words, the direction of movement of the window may be reversed at will.

In my device about to be described I have provided an'automatic operator concealed below the window stool and accessible for repair and adjustment by the removal of either the window stool orapron. Furthermore my invention does not require a radical departure from the customary architectural treatment or sound construction.

I have also incorporated in my device manual means whereby the window operator may be disconnected, and the window opened and closed by hand.

Other important and incidental objects of my inventionrwill beset forth in the following specification and" the claims annexed thereto.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is an interior view of a conventional metal, casement window, showing my operator attached thereto. Figure 2 is a cross sectional View taken. through the; window shown in. Figure 1.. Figure 3 is. a vertical sectional view taken through the operator mechanism on the center line of the quadrant shaft. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken. on the line 4- 1 in Figure 3; Figure 5 is also a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 3 Figure 6 is an enlarged detail View of the contactor switch. Figwe 7- is a vertical sectional view taken on the line l.l' of Figure 3. Figure 8 is a detail View of the quadrant drive collars. Figure 9 is a detail View of the locking mechanism positioned upon a mullion: orat the window jamb. Figure 10 is a 55: detail View of the. remote control switch. And

1935, Serial No. 28 ,548

Figure 11 is a circuit diagram employed with my device.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings for a detailed description of my invention, the numeral l indicates a conventionalout-swinging steel casement, having a stationary frame 2. On the inside of the window I have shown. the conventional window stool 3 and apron 4. V

Welded to the sill member 5 of the frame 2, slightly above the stool 3 and projecting inwardly therefrom, is a shelf bracket 6. (See Figures: 1, 2 and 3). Secured to the lower face. of the bracket 6 by screws 1, l, is an operator housing. 8. This housing is essentially a square case 9' having an open lower face Ill. Projecting upwardly from the top of' the housing is. a ribbed shank or boss ll having oppositely disposed ears 12, M in which the screws 1', l are received.

Extending axially of the boss I! is a quadrant shaft I3 that projects upwardly through the bracket 6. Secured to the upper face of the latter is a housing I4 formed with an elongated? opening l5 in its outer face and in alinement with: a similar opening F6 in the sill member 5.. (See Figure 3).

Positioned within the opening ['5 of the housing l4, and projecting through the opening: I6, is an operator arm I! having formed. in itsiinner end a square aperture l-8". Within thev latter a. square shoulder formed on the: shaft I3 is re-' ceived, and where the latter projects through the housing I4, I have secured. thereto a handle for manual operation; (See Figure 3).

Attached to the outer free end of the arm. I! is a shouldered stud 2| that is slidably' received within an inverted channel guide 2-2 secured; to the lower face of the sill member of the casement I. When the shaft 13 is rotated, the arm l'l will swing outwardly from the sill member 5 to open the casement, and when moved in the opposite direction, it will cause the casement I to close. (See FiguresZ and 3).

The shaft 13 projects into the housing 8 where it is formed with an elongated shoulder 23' of reduced diameter.. Rotatably. mounted upon this shoulder 23' is a gear quadrant sleeve 24 having. at its upper end a square shoulder 25 towhich a gear quadrant 26 is attached. Between the quadrant 26 and the lower end of the sleeve 24, I have. provided on the latter a shoulder 2-! upon which there is freely mounted a locking pawl 2-8,. later to be described. (See Figures 3 and: 8)

Formed on the lower face of. the sleeve 24 are three equally. spaced square teeth 2-9, adapted to engage similar teeth 30 on the adjacent end of a quadrant shaft drive sleeve 3|. This sleeve 3| is also positioned upon the shoulder 23 and to which it is slidably keyed. (See Figures 3 and 8).

Surrounding the sleeves 24 and 3| is a helical spring 32 whose one end is secured to the sleeve 24 by a screw 33 and whose lower end is secured to the sleeve 3| by a screw 34. Now, as shown in Figure 8, the spring 32, which is wound left hand, is attached to the respective collars under tension to hold the teeth 29 and 30 firmly together. When the sleeve 24 is rotated to the right, as viewed in Figure 8, there will be a positive'drive connection between the gear quadrant sleeve 24 and the shaft l3. 'However, when the sleeve 24 is rotated to the left, as viewed in Figure 8, the shaft [3 will be rotated entirely by the tension of the spring 32; The purpose of this yieldable drive in one direction will be hereinafter described.

Projecting horizontally of the housing 8, and in the plane of the frame 2, is a quadrant drive shaft 35, whose ends are journaled in suitable bearings 36 and 31 mounted in the end walls of the housing 8.

Secured upon the shaft 35 is a worm 38 meshing with'the gear quadrant 26 and by which it is driven. Also secured upon the shaft 35 is a worm gear 38 meshing with a worm 48 keyed to an intermediate shaft 4| positioned at right angles with the shaft 35. The shaft 4|, like the shaft 35, is suitably journaled in bearings 42 and 43 mounted inthe walls of the housing 8.

Also keyed to the shaft 4| is a worm gear 44 that meshes with a worm 45 on the shaft of an electric motor 46 by which the device is operated.

The lower face |of the housing 8 is adapted to be closed by a cover plate 41 attached to the former by screws 48 and having formed at one corner thereof a circular disc-like projection 49 to receive thereon the motor 46, with the shaft .of the latter positioned vertically.

It is obvious that the speed reduction will be high and, when the motor, which is reversible, is rotated in one direction, the shaft l3 will be slowly rotated to open the window; and when the motor is reversed, the shaft |3 will be slowly rotated in'the opposite. direction to close the window. (See Figures 3, 4 and '7).

Means for limiting the'rotation of the shaft |3 will now be described. Secured to the periphery of the sleeve 24 by screws 58, 58 is a depending arm whose lower end terminates in a. circular disc 52 formed with a central aperture 53. Riveted in the aperture 53 is the shouldered end 54 of a sleeve 55 that is freely mounted upon the extreme lower end of the shaft l3. The sleeve 55 extends through an aperture in the cover plate 41 to receive thereon, below the plate, a contact arm 56 later to be described.

Secured to the lower face of the plate 4'] is a block of molded insulating material5'l such as phenol condensate. The block 51 has formed therein'a quarter-circular opening, the center of whose arcuate surface isin alinement with the shaft |3.

Attached to the arcuate surface of the block 51 are three arcuate parallel contactor strips 58, 59 and 60, 'each having a lug extension to receive a wire lead. As shown in Figure 11, the center contactor strip 59 is of greatest length,'its opposite ends being formed inwardly to provide 'the strip 58, isso positioned to bring its one end '(See Figure 11).

in alinement with the stop 6|. (See Figures 5, 6 and 11).

The contact arm 56 that engages the contactor strips 58, 59 and 68, will now be described. The arm 56 is formed to an open U shape, and is provided with oppositely disposed holes adjacent its closed end to receive therethrough the sleeve 55. In the center of the closed end of this U shaped arm 56 I have provided a threaded hole 63 to receive a set screw 64 by which the arm 56 is secured to the sleeve 55 in its adjusted position. (See Figure 6).

Between the open ends of the arm 56 I have pivotally mounted an elongated rocker arm 65 formed of molded insulating material.

Secured to the outer face of this rocker arm is a series of spaced contact fingers 66, one for each of the contactor strips 58, 59 and 60 and interconnected by a center strap 61. (See Figures 3, 6 and 11) Each of the fingers 66 comprises an elongated yieldable, metal strip 63 whose outer free ends are curved to provide contact shoes 69 for smooth engagement with the contactor strips.

In the inner face of the rocker arm 65 I have provided an axial groove to receive one end of a light, flat spring 7| whose opposite end fits in a like groove 12 milled in the wall of the sleeve 55. This spring H is made sufficiently long to provide a toggle action to quickly throw the rocker arm 65 to bring one or the other of the shoes 89 of the contact fingers out of engagement with the contactor strips. (See Figures 5, 6 and 11).

The function of the rocker arm will now be described in connection with the circuit employed. It is obvious that a person might close the electric circuit by pressing a button to cause the window to open, and unintentionally keep the circuit closed for a longer period of time than would be required to fully open the window with resulting damage to the motor or mechanism. In order to avoid such an accident I have provided automatic means to break the electrical circuit as soon as the window is fully opened or closed and locked.

Referring now to Figure 11, I have disclosed a conventional series motor 45 of the commutator type which is readily reversible on either alternating or direct current. I have also employed a conventional double pole, double throw switch 13, with modifications.

It is assumed that the window is closed and for the present the locking device will be ignored. The switch i3 is closed by pressing the button marked Open in Figure 10. Current will now flow from the mains'to the motor field windings I4 and through leads M and 15 and from the field windings to the center terminals 16 and I? of the switch 13 through leads 18 and 19. From the terminal 16 current will flow through one of the contact blades 80 to the contact 8|, and thence through a lead 82 to one of the armature brushes 83. From the other terminal '11 current will flow through the contact blade 84 to the contact 85; thence through a lead 85 to the contactor strip 58. From the strip 58 current will flow to the strip 59 through the fingers 66; and then through a lead 81 to the armature brush 88. The motor will now start to rotate the quadrant shaft l3 to open the window.

When the window is fully opened, the contact arm 56 will strike the stop 6|. As shown at Figure 6, the full line position of the finger 66 indiaraeera I dotted line position in Figure: 6', to quickly break.

the. circuit between the center: strap 59. and the end. of the. shorter top: strap 58.v The circuit, however, is immediately rel-established between.

the center strap 59' andithe: lower strap; 60,. but

the motor is in operatiye until the switch 1 3 is. thrown to theopposite side,

The. circuit: used to close the window is similar to that previously described except that whenthe switch. 1:3 isclosed by pressing the button marked. Close in. Figure 10, current flow from the strap: 60; through. alead 89to. the termi nal 90 on the switch 1 3', and" from, the terminal 8 I. through av short lead 9| to: the remaining terminal 92 ofthe switch. When the window is fully closed, the spring 32 will permit a further rotation of the quadrant shaft I13, and this additional travel after the window is closed is utilized to actuate the locking mechanism which will now be described.

Referring now to Figure 9, there is welded or otherwise secured to the inner face of the sash on. the liockmside, a U: shaped bar 93 to form between it andtheface of the sash a vertical elongated. opening 94 Secured to the inner face of the mulli'on I is a shallowchannel member 95, extending the full" height of the window and forming between it and the mullion an enclosed recess 96:.

Slidably positioned within the recess 96 is a vertical bar 9 1' for each sash and formed with an ofiset upper end 98 that is adapted to be project'ed through a slot 9'9 in: the sidewall of the channel member 95. This ofiset upper end is provided-with an inclined slot I that is adapted to receive a pin I01 Now, when thebar- 91 is drawn downwardly, the pin I-0I will cam the offset end 98" outwardly through the slot 99 to enter-the opening 94; and as a beveled face I-02 on the olfset end 90 is drawn into the opening 843 the window will; be

tightly closed.

Tothelowerend of thebar- 91 there is pivotally connected one end of a bell crank I03, fulcrumed on a stud I04; To the other end of the crank I03 there is pivotally connected the outer end of an actuating rod I05. The rod I05 is formed to i enter an aperture in the end wall of the housing 8 and within the latter, it is formed with an elongated slot I06 to receive a circular end I01 formed on the outer end of the locking pawl 28. (See Figure 4).

Between the shaft I3 and the outer end of the pawl 28, the latter has an arcuate slot I08 equal to the angular travel of the window and adapted to receive therein a pin I09 projecting from the lower face of the gear quadrant 26. When the quadrant and the shaft I3 have been rotated sumciently to close the window, the pin I09 will engage the end of the slot I 08 and rotate the pawl 28. When the pawl 28 is rotated, its rounded end I01 that is received within the slot I06, will draw the rod I05 into the housing 8. When therod I05 is thus moved axially the bar 91 will be drawn downwardly to lock the window.

Surrounding the rod I05 adjacent the housing 8 is a helical compression spring IIO secured between an adjustable collar I I I on the rod and the housing 8. When the motor is operated to open the window, the first movement of the gear quadrant 26 will cause the pin I08 carried thereby to release the. pawl. 28,. and the compressed spring: I I 0wi=llforcethe; rod I105; from the housing B and; also. raise the bar 9:1: to. unlock. the window; At this; time; the teeth 29. on. the collar 24 will engage the: teethr30. on the sleeveii't and effect. a positive drive to open. the window;

In: order to efiect an emergency opening. or closing of the window I have provided the. followingmeans, Projecting axially of the shaft: I 3; and through the hub. of the handle 20', is a. small bore. toslidablyreceive a. pin ItI'Z formed with a button head: II3 where it projects above the handle 20. At its: lower end, below the sleeve. 3'I,. the pin II2 engages a spring tensioned transverse key 4;. This. key' is movable axially of the shaft I3. into and out of engagement. with a transverse keyway I I formed in the lower face of the sleeve 3|.

Normally the key IZI4 is held within the keyway I.l-5 by a spring II6 below it to. effect a driving connection between the sleeve 3| and the shaft I3. However, when the-button II3. above the handle is depressed, the pin I I22 will force the key I I4 downwardly out of the keyway H5, and the shaft I3; may be freely rotated by the handle 20 to open and closerthe window. I

After the button H3 is released; the spring I'I 6 will force the key I1M= into its. keyway II 5 when they are brought into registry by manually rotating the shaft;

In order that the window may be manually unlocked to permit it to be manually opened, I have provided a finger grip I'I 'I for the pin IOI, where the latter extends through the face of the channel 95 When it is desired to unlock the window, the wings of the finger grip I I1 are turned to a vertical position and the pin I0 I maybe moved toward: the center of the channel 95-towithdraw the ofiset end 98 from its locked position.

When the finger grip isin its normal position, it is locked against. lateral movement byits engagement. with a rib hat the centenof the channel 95. l i

I do not wish to belimited to the details of construction and arrangement herein shown and described, and any changes or modifications may be made therein within the scope of the subjoined" claims. l

Having described-my invention, I claim:

1. The combination with a stationary window frame, a casement hingedly mounted therein for an outswinging movement, a housing connected to said frame, a vertical shaft rotatable in said housing, a connection between said shaft and the easement to swing the latter outwardly and inwardly when the shaft is rotated, a sleeve fixedly connected to said shaft, teeth on said sleeve, a second sleeve loosely fitted on said shaft, teeth on the second sleeve adapted to engage the teeth on the first sleeve to rotate the shaft to swing said casement outwardly, a motor connected to the second sleeve to rotate it in either direction, and a coil spring surrounding both sleeves and connected at one end to the first sleeve and at its other end to the second sleeve to provide a flexible driving connection between said sleeves when the motor is operated to rotate the second sleeve in a reverse direction to swing the casement inwardly to a closed position.

2. The combination with a stationary window frame, a casement hingedly mounted therein for an outswinging movement, a housing carried by said frame, a vertical shaft rotatable in said housing, a connection between said shaft and the casement to swing the latter outwardly or inwardlywhen theshaft is rotated,"means' for ro- 1 3. The combination with a stationary window frame, a casement hingedly mounted therein for an outswinging movement, a housing carried by said frame, a vertical shaft rotatable in said housing, a connection between said shaft and the casement to swing the latter outwardly or in- ,wa'rdly when the shaft is rotated, a horizontal shaft mounted in said housing, means for driving the horizontal shaft, a worm on said horizontal shaft, a quadrant connected to the vertical shaft, in mesh with said worm, a pawl freely mounted on the vertical shaft below the quadrant, and

formed with an arcuate slot, a pin on the quad-' rant projecting into said slot, and a shiftable device for engaging said casement to lock it in a fully closed position, said device being operatively connected to said pawl, whereby, whenpthe quadrant has been rotated sufficiently by the worm to close the easement, the pin will engage in the end of the slot in the pawl to rotate the latter to draw the shiftable device into locking engagement with the casement.

4. In combination, astationary window frame, a casement vertically hinged thereon for an outswinging movement, a housing connected to said frame, a vertical shaft rotatable in said housing, an arm fixed on said shaft and slidably connected to said casement to swing the latter outwardly and'inwardly as the shaft is rotated, a driving shaft rotatably mounted in said housing,,a reversible electric motor for operating said driving shaft, means rotatably mounted onsaid vertical shaft and positively operated by said driving shaft and having an abutting portion for positively moving the vertical shaft in a direction to open the casement, and a spring between said means and'said vertical shaft for yieldingly driving said vertical shaft in a direction to close the casement. I a

5. In combination, a stationary window frame,

a casement vertically hinged thereon for an outs-winging movement, a housing connected to said frame, a vertical shaft rotatable in said housing, an arm fixed on said shaft and slidably connected to. said casement to swing the latter outwardly and inwardly as the shaft is rotated,- a driving shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, a reversible electric motor for operating said driving shaft, means operated by said driving shaft and having an abutting portion for positively moving the vertical shaft in a direction to open the casement, a spring between said means and said vertical shaft for yieldingly driving said vertical shaft in adirection to close the casement. a shiftable device for locking and unlocking said casement with respect to said frame, and means operated by said driving shaft during initial starting and final stopping movements of the shaft when the casement is closed for moving said shiftable device to locking and unlocking positions.

6. Incombination, a stationary window frame, a casement vertically hinged thereon for an outswinging movement, a housing connected to said frame, a vertical shaft rotatable in said housing, an arm fixed on said shaft and slidably connected to said casement to swing the latter outwardly and inwardly as the shaft is rotated, a driving shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, a reversible electric motor for operating said driving shaft, means rotatablymountecl on said vertical shaft and positively operated by said driving shaft and having an abutting portion for positively moving the vertical shaft in a direction to open the casement, a spring between said means and said vertical shaft normally maintaining said abutting portion in abutting engagement with a portion of said vertical shaft and yieldingly driving said vertical shaft in a direction to close the easement, a shiftable device for locking and unlocking said casement with respect to said frame, and means operated by said driving shaft during initial starting and final stopping movement of the shaft when the casement is closed for moving said shiftable device to locking and unlocking positions, manually operable switch means for controlling the operation of said motor, and means for automatically stopping the motor when the casement is fully opened and when the shiftable device is in looking position.

. RALPH W. CARNAHAN. 

